Anderson and Muncie boast unique art opportunities

As temperatures begin to drop and the winter blues start to set in, it’s natural to want to go into hibernation this winter. The weather outside might be frightful, but nearby art museums and galleries offer unique and fun alternatives to staying in this winter.

Many people have heard of or been to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, which has recently been renamed Newfields, but for those not wanting to make the trip to Indianapolis there are opportunities to experience art much closer to home.

Anderson features the Anderson Art Museum and Park Place Arts, and David Owesley Museum of Art is located in Muncie.

The Anderson Museum of Art is dedicated to enriching the community through the visual arts. Their current exhibition is called “Open Space: Art About the Land,” which runs until Dec. 2.

This traveling exhibit celebrates the significance of land and its importance in Indiana. Local artists were invited to submit pieces inspired by the land or that celebrate the notion of open space as it relates to the land.

“Our focus is really on community involvement,” said Stephanie Michaels, collections curator at the Anderson Museum of Art. “We do a lot of community outreach where we partner with different organizations to provide art education. We’ve just recently done something with the Girl Scouts, but are always looking for other places within the community to partner with.”

The museum also offers a wide variety of weekend workshops and classes for youth and adults taught by local professionals. Whether you’re interested in painting, quilting, pottery, jewelry-making or simply appreciating works of art, there is something for everybody at the Anderson Museum of Art.

The museum is located on 32 West 10th Street, Anderson, Indiana, 46016.

The Park Place Arts center offers members of the community the chance to view and purchase local artwork.

This quaint gallery partners with local artists to put on between three and four shows annually.

The upcoming exhibition will open Nov. 25 and will feature local artists and craftsmen. Admission is free for everyone and all works are available for purchase.

“I think art is important to a community in a lot of ways,” said Eliot Reed, owner and operator of Park Place Arts. “I think it helps people to look at and think about things differently. Art has to be interpreted so it requires a level of engagement between the artist and the viewer even if the artist isn’t present. There’s a lot of talent in this town that is underexposed and underappreciated.”

Photography and painting classes are offered periodically and prices vary based on the class.

Reed’s goal for his gallery is to encourage and foster artistic development within the Anderson community. The gallery is located at 515 East 8th Street Anderson, Indiana, 46012.

The David Owesley Museum of Art is located on Ball State’s campus and has approximately 1,000 works of art on display with more than 11,000 works total in the collection. This museum is always free and open to the public.

Its mission is “to cultivate lifelong learning and recreation in the visual arts through its collection of original works of art, engaging exhibitions and educational programs for the university community and other diverse audiences.”

“I was surprised by the amount of work there was,” said AU senior Noah Volk. “Their permanent collection held pieces from the ancient, medieval and renaissance periods along with some pretty big names I wasn’t expecting. It was cool to see some well-known artistsm as well as discovering new artists whose work intrigued me. It was a bit of a drive, but definitely worth making the trip.”

Their current exhibitions are “Engaging Technology II: Art + Science” and “Action! The Anatomy of LeRoy Neiman’s Champions.”

“Technology II” is a selection of internationally renowned artists who are actively investigating the intersections of the arts and sciences.

“Action!” features 74 paintings and drawings that shed new light on Neiman as a master draftsman and his ability to capture motion. Both exhibits are open until Dec. 22.

These local museums and galleries offer new and affordable experiences to explore art within the community as well as from all over the world. With so many different opportunities to get off campus and take advantage of some new experiences, the winter blues don’t stand a chance this year.

Listen

Hannah Hawkins is a sophomore returning to the women’s basketball team as last season’s leading rebounder and scorer. The veteran is excited for the upcoming season, where she will lead a young team with a lot of potential. Interview with Hannah Hawkins transcript

The Andersonian, the student newspaper of Anderson University, Anderson, Ind., publishes a print edition and maintains this website. As a matter of institutional policy, the University administration does not review or edit Andersonian content prior to publication. The student editors are responsible for both print and online content. While the administration recognizes the role of the student press on a college campus and in journalism education, the views expressed in the Andersonian are not necessarily those of Anderson University.